Therese reiniierz



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .THERESE REIXIIERZ, or MUNICH, BAYARIA,,GERMAXY.

PROCESS OF PRESERVING NATURAL FLOWERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 417,284, dated December 17, 1889.

Application filed July 18,

To all whom it may concern.- Be. it known that I, THERESE REINHERZ, of

' Munich,-Bavaria, Germany, have invented an Improved Process of PreservingNatural Flowers, (for which I have obtained the following patents: in England May 4, 1887, No. 6,547,

in Luxemburg May 3, 1887, No. 8&6; in Aus tria-Hungary October 14, 1887, Nos. 22319 and 49,212; in Italy July 23, 1887, No. 21,840; in Belgium May 16, 1887, No. 77,309, and March 31, 1888, No. 81,115,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process for preserving natural flowers by means of a stifi backing, so that the flowers may be used the same as artificial flowers.

In carrying out my process I proceed as fol lows: By means of a brush the back of each flower-leaf is coated with an adhesive and hardening substance, either of organic or inorganic nature. I may use mixtures of collodion, glycerine, paraffine, resin, caoutchouc, and wax. or of magnesia with chloride of magnesium, orof oxide of zinc with chloride of zinc, &c. I mayalso use mixtures of organic and inorganic materials, such as mixtures of carbonate of lime with albumen, resinous cements, & c. Upon this coating I place a backing composed of textile fabric, paper, leather, or similar material. This material is again coated with one of the above mixtures.

By this process the sap can freely render its water to the air, and is thuspreserved 1889- Serial No; 317,905"; (No specimens.) Patented in Lnxemhnrg Hay 3,1887,No. 846; in England Key 4, 1887, No. 6,547. in Belgium May 16, 1887, No. 77,309, and March 31, 1888, 21,840, and in Austria-Hungary October 14, 1887, No. 22,419 and No. 49,212.

No. 81,115 in Italy July 23, 1887, No.

' against chemical changes, which would produce an injurious eifect upon the color. Moreover, during this drying process of the sap the cells will not become shriveleo, as the coating first replaces the reduced volume of sap in the cells, and, secondly, gives to the cells a strong support. As the flowers are not covered on their face, they will retain their natural color and form.

For the backing it is advisable to use textile fabrics for fleshy flowers containing a large quantity of water, while cotton fibers are preferable for more delicate flowers.

Flowers treated according to my process will after months retain the weight of natural flowers, as the weight of the backing is equal about to the weight of the evaporated water. Thus in this respect also do the prepared flowers resemble natnral flowers.

What I claim is The process of preserving natural flowers, which consists in coating them on their reverse side with an adhesive material, then applying a backing, and finally applying a second layer of an adhesive material, substantially as specified.

Intestimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THERESE REINIIERZ.

Witnesses:

Enw. W. MEALEY, EMIL IIENZEL. 

